E-Passport Market Update: Nigeria Deploys Passport Team to UK

Nigeria Sends E-Passport Intervention Team to UK to Clear Diaspora Application Backlog 

ABUJA, Nigeria — August 10, 2026 — The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has deployed a dedicated Passport Intervention Team to the United Kingdom effective August 10, 2026, to process pending applications, enrol new applicants, and facilitate renewals for Nigerians in the diaspora — a development that highlights the growing operational demands on national e-passport issuance systems worldwide. The deployment reflects the expanding service delivery pressures shaping the global E-Passport Market, which was valued at USD 52.51 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 402.85 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 22.6% from 2026 to 2035. 

The deployment was directed by Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who instructed Comptroller-General of Immigration Kemi Nandap to dispatch the team from NIS headquarters to operate in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in London. The intervention is open to applicants with pending passport applications, new applicants, and holders of passports with less than one year remaining before expiry who wish to renew. Applicants are required to present completed application forms and proof of payment during enrolment. 

A key operational feature of the exercise is its geographic reach: rather than centralising services in London alone, the Intervention Team will visit designated cities across the United Kingdom to conduct passport enrolment and processing, bringing services closer to Nigerians in different parts of the country. The NIS has urged applicants not to proceed to any location until the detailed schedule — including designated cities, dates, venues, and enrolment times — has been officially communicated through the Nigerian High Commission's channels. 

The NIS confirmed that all digital passport application channels, including the Contactless Passport Application System, remain fully operational during the intervention exercise, and that the home delivery service also remains available to applicants who prefer that option. The UK deployment builds on the NIS's April 2025 launch of the second phase of its contactless biometric passport application system in the United States, Jamaica, Mexico, and Brazil. 

Key Highlights: 

• Government-Directed Deployment: Interior Minister Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo directed the NIS Comptroller-General to dispatch the Passport Intervention Team to the UK, underscoring the Federal Government's commitment to improving diaspora passport access. 

• Multi-City UK Coverage: The Intervention Team will extend services beyond London to designated cities across the United Kingdom, broadening access for Nigerians in different regions of the country. 

• Parallel Digital Channels Maintained: The NIS confirmed that its Contactless Passport Application System and home delivery service remain fully operational alongside the physical intervention exercise, reflecting a hybrid service delivery model. 

• Eligibility Scope: The exercise covers pending applicants, new applicants, and passport holders with less than one year to expiry — with applicants required to present completed forms and proof of payment at enrolment. 

Analyst Insight: 

According to analysts at Next Move Strategy Consulting, the NIS's UK Passport Intervention Team deployment is a concrete illustration of the service delivery scaling challenges that are driving structural investment in e-passport issuance infrastructure globally. NMSC analysts note that as the global e-passport market advances toward its projected USD 402.85 billion valuation by 2035, governments across Africa and other emerging markets are increasingly supplementing digital passport channels with targeted physical interventions to address diaspora backlogs — a dynamic that is accelerating demand for mobile enrolment hardware, contactless biometric systems, and integrated passport management platforms capable of supporting both in-country and overseas issuance operations. 

Industry Outlook: 

The Nigeria Immigration Service's deployment of a dedicated passport team to the United Kingdom reflects a broader global trend in which national passport authorities are being compelled to extend their operational footprint beyond domestic borders to serve growing diaspora populations. As international travel volumes continue to recover and expand, and as ICAO biometric encoding compliance requirements drive passport renewal cycles across member states, the pressure on national issuance systems is expected to intensify through 2030 and beyond. Governments that invest in scalable, hybrid issuance models — combining contactless digital applications with targeted physical enrolment exercises — are likely to be better positioned to manage demand surges while maintaining service quality. These dynamics are expected to sustain robust procurement activity across the e-passport hardware, software, and services value chain through 2035. 

Source: Nairametrics 

For More Information: Download FREE Sample on E-Passport Market Report

Prepared By: Sanyukta Deb